St George is slowly but surely wooing the big yachts, according to Bermuda Yacht Services founder Mark Soares, who is in discussions with the Old Town council on getting a new marina in place.

“We are just a matter of a couple of months away from a commercial agreement between the St George’s Harbour Marina Company and the Corporation of St George’s,” Mr Soares told The Royal Gazette.

“The bottom line is, once we have that agreement in place, we can get started.”

The entrepreneur was optimistic that an expanded marina could be in place at Ordnance Island in time for the 2015 season.

“Right now there are a lot of big boats in ­— I’m looking at millions and millions of dollars’ worth of yachts tied up in St George’s,” Mr Soares said.

“With the Island as a whole, yacht arrivals are somewhat down, but numbers at the East End are up. St George’s is turning into a bit of a yachting town, and with more facilities there we can do more.”

Mr Soares said the Corporation had accepted his proposal for a phased approach to develop the marina as business grows.

“Phase one would be the construction of a 400ft fixed breakwater with a floating 38-berth marina,” he said. “The idea is to have it running by next year.”

With a shelter from the elements, yachts would have a convenient mooring right off the centre of St George’s, which could then offer “laundry, bathroom services, security, hardware — all the things yachtsmen need”.

ARC Rally arrivals from the World Cruising Club are expected to bring more business to the East End over this weekend.